The camps had permanent German staff, augmented by captives and volunteers from other Eastern European countries (known as Hiwis).

The Poles were delivered to Polenlagers by trainloads from German temporary transit camps, after they had been evicted from their homes to make way for new settlers (see: Action Saybusch).

[2][3] The Polenlager idea was part of Adolf Hitler's plan, known as Lebensraum, which involved Germanization of all Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany with the help of settlers from Bukovina, Eastern Galicia and Volhynia.

The main purpose of the forcible displacement of Poles was to create a German-only enclave known as Reichsgau Wartheland across the formerly Polish territories.

[4][5][6] There were over 30 Polenlager camps identified in research – mostly in Silesia (26),[7] but also in other locations across the Third Reich and in the present day Czech Republic.